On Monday evening, an electric bus operating between Tin Factory and Goruguntapalya in Bengaluru caught fire while passengers were on board. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported as passengers were promptly deboarded.

Incident Details

According to a Moneycontrol report, the non-AC electric bus had become stuck on a waterlogged road, with water reaching the bus’s chassis. After the bus failed to start, passengers were transferred to another bus. Shortly after this transfer, at around 10:50 pm, the fire began to spread.

The BMTC driver and conductor quickly contacted the firefighting team, who managed to extinguish the flames. The incident, which occurred on the busy Outer Ring Road, caused significant traffic congestion, and the bus was later removed from the site. It has been taken to the Kengeri workshop for further inspection.

Weather and Traffic Impact

The fire incident coincided with heavy rainfall in Bengaluru on Monday, exacerbating traffic issues across the city. Severe waterlogging led to prolonged traffic jams, with vehicles stuck for hours. Both the BBMP and Bengaluru traffic police deployed staff to manage the water congestion on key routes.

BMTC, which operates electric buses in Bengaluru, has these vehicles maintained by private contractors. The incident highlights ongoing challenges with electric vehicle operations and urban infrastructure during adverse weather conditions.